Team manager checklist for junior football tournaments

Who this is for

Team managers and coaches who are about to enter a specific tournament, or who are building a season plan and want a standard set of questions to run through every time.

Before you enter

• Organiser and tournament status: confirm who is running the event, how to contact them and whether the tournament has been sanctioned by the relevant County FA where applicable. Check that clear competition rules and an organiser contact are available before paying. FindMeFootball does not independently verify sanctioning, so ask the organiser for confirmation or contact the relevant County FA if you need to check.
• Age group and player eligibility: confirm the age qualification date and whether players must be registered to your club or league. Ask whether guest players are allowed, whether proof of age or identity is required, and when the final squad list must be submitted.
• Format: check whether the tournament is 3v3, 5v5, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 or another format, and make sure it suits your squad. From the 2026/27 season, the maximum formats in England are 3v3 at U7, 5v5 at U8 and U9, 7v7 at U10 and U11, 9v9 at U12 and U13, and 11v11 from U14. Smaller formats may be used, so always check the individual tournament rules rather than assuming.
• Level: check the organiser-selected level, Development, Standard or Elite, against your squad's actual standard, not just its age group. See our guide to choosing the right level for how to judge this properly.
• Competition rules: check the match length, group scoring, tie-break rules, knockout format, substitution rules and what happens after a draw. Confirm whether any tournament rules differ from your normal league football.
• Playing schedule and rest: ask how long matches last, how many games are guaranteed, and how much time teams normally have between fixtures.
• Match officials: confirm whether referees are provided, whether teams must supply assistant referees or other officials, and whether any additional fee applies.
• Squad size and substitutions: confirm the minimum and maximum squad size and how substitutions work. Plan for the number and length of games, while allowing for injuries, illness and late withdrawals.
• First aid and emergencies: ask what first-aid provision will be available, where the nearest defibrillator is located, and who is responsible for dealing with an emergency. Confirm whether your club expects your team to bring its own first-aid kit or qualified first aider.
• Player medical information: know which players have allergies, asthma, medication or other relevant medical needs. Follow your club's policy, share information only with adults who need it, and agree with parents or carers who will hold and administer any medication.
• Entry fee and additional costs: confirm the total team entry fee, and separately confirm parking charges, spectator admission, booking fees, deposits and anything else not included in it.
• Pitch surface and footwear: confirm whether the tournament is played on grass, artificial turf or another surface, and what footwear is permitted.
• Venue facilities: check the availability of toilets, changing areas, drinking water, food, shelter and accessible facilities where your team or families require them, and how far parking is from the pitches.
• Wet-weather and refund policy: ask what happens if the tournament is postponed, shortened or cancelled, and whether that entitles you to any refund or credit.
• Date, kick-off and arrival time: confirm exactly when you need to arrive, not just when the first game kicks off, since registration and warm-up both take time.

Once you have entered

• Get written confirmation of your entry and keep it somewhere you can find it on the day.
• Save the organiser's contact details and check how urgent updates will be issued, such as email, text, WhatsApp or the tournament listing.
• Confirm the exact venue postcode, entrance, parking instructions and deadline for weather or cancellation updates.
• Share the essentials with parents early: date, venue entrance, arrival time, likely finishing time, kit and footwear, food and drink, parking, spectator costs and the process for urgent updates. Our parent guide covers what to expect on the day in more detail.
• Confirm your squad list meets any registration deadline the organiser has set.
• Reconfirm player availability and any medical, dietary or accessibility information that needs to be managed.
• Check whether the organiser will publish fixtures in advance or only on the day, so you know when to plan around them.

On the day

• Arrive with time to register, find your pitch and warm up, not just to make kick-off.
• Bring your written confirmation and squad list in case registration asks for it.
• Check in at registration or with the organiser before your first game if that is how the event is run.
• If the standard looks wrong once you see the other teams, raise it with the organiser as early as possible. Our guide to choosing the right level covers what you can reasonably ask for.
• Where a tournament uses FindMeFootball's fixtures and results tools, you and the parents can follow the next kick-off, the group table and your next opponent from your phones rather than a printed sheet.
• Bring the first-aid equipment and emergency contacts required under your club's procedures. Make sure any required medication is available and handled by the agreed responsible adult, in line with club policy and the parent or carer's instructions.
• Team equipment and weather: confirm what the organiser supplies and bring the equipment your team requires, including playing and goalkeeper kits, spare bibs for colour clashes, shin pads, suitable footwear, balls and a pump if requested, drinking water and suitable protection for the expected weather. Keep a charged phone available for organiser updates and emergencies.
• Know who to speak to on the day if a genuine safety, conduct or safeguarding concern comes up, separate from an ordinary result or scheduling query.

Common mistakes

Entering without checking the level suits your squad, then finding out on the day that it does not. Under-registering your squad for the format, so a couple of injuries leave you unable to field a team. Assuming parking is free and finding out otherwise in the car park. Not asking about the wet-weather policy until it is raining. Turning up at kick-off time rather than arrival time and missing the warm-up. Leaving parents to find out the details themselves instead of sending them the essentials early.

Finding a tournament to enter

Search by postcode on the tournament search near you, or browse the UK tournaments hub by region, county and age group. Every listing shows the organiser-declared level, format and entry details, so you can start most of this checklist before you even contact the organiser.